SUPREME COURT
Manila
EN BANC
BENGZON, J.:
The case. Appellants seek to reverse the order of Hon. Pantaleon Pelayo, Judge
of the Iloilo court of first instance refusing to interfere with the alias writ of
execution issued in Civil Case No. 2942 pending in another sala of the same
court.
The facts. In April 1953 Amador Tajanlangit and his wife Angeles, residents of
Iloilo, bought, from the Southern Motors Inc. of Iloilo two tractors and a thresher.
In payment for the same, they executed the promissory note Annex A whereby
they undertook to satisfy the total purchase price of P24,755.75 in several
installments (with interest) payable on stated dates from May 18, 1953
December 10, 1955. The note stipulated that if default be made in the payment
of interest or of any installment, then the total principal sum still unpaid with
interest shall at once become demandable etc. The spouse failed to meet any
installment. Wherefore, they were sued, in the above Civil Case No. 2942, for the
amount of the promissory note.1 The spouses defaulted, and the court, after
listening to the Southern Motors' evidence entered Judgment for it in the total
sum of P24,755.75 together with interest at 12 per cent, plus 10 per cent of the
total amount due as attorney's fees and costs of collection.
Carrying out the order of execution, the sheriff levied on the same machineries
and farm implements which had been bought by the spouses; and later sold
them at public auction to the highest bidder — which turned out to be the
Southern Motors itself — for the total sum of P10,000.
As its judgment called for much more, the Southern Motors subsequently asked
and obtained, an alias writ of execution; and pursuant thereto, the provincial
sheriff levied attachment on the Tajanlangits' rights and interests in certain real
properties — with a view to another sale on execution.
To prevent such sale, the Tajanlangits instituted this action in the Iloilo court of
first instance for the purpose among others, of annulling the alias writ of
execution and all proceedings subsequent thereto. Their two main theories: (1)
They had returned the machineries and farm implements to the Southern Motors
Inc., the latter accepted them, and had thereby settled their accounts; for that
reason, said spouses did not contest the action in Civil Case No. 2942; and (2)
as the Southern Motors Inc. had repossessed the machines purchased on
installment (and mortgaged) the buyers were thereby relieved from further
responsibility, in view of the Recto Law, now article 1484 of the New Civil Code.
For answer, the company denied the alleged "settlement and understanding"
during the pendency of civil case No. 2949. It also denied having repossessed
the machineries, the truth being that they were attached by the sheriff and then
deposited by the latter in its shop for safekeeping, before the sale at public
auction.
The case was submitted for decision mostly upon a stipulation of facts.
Additional testimony was offered together with documentary evidence.
Everything considered the court entered judgment, saying in part;
The proceedings in Civil Case No. 2942 above referred to, were had
in the Court of First Instance (Branch 1) of the Province and of the
City of Iloilo. While this court (Branch IV) sympathizes with plaintiffs,
it cannot grant, in this action, the relief prayed for the complaint
because courts of similar jurisdiction cannot invalidate the judgments
and orders of each other. Plaintiffs have not pursued the proper
remedy. This court is without authority and jurisdiction to declare null
and void the order directing the issuance of alias writ of execution
because it was made by another court of equal rank and category
(see Cabiao and Izquierdo vs. Del Rosario and Lim, 44 Phil., 82-
186).
The plaintiffs reasonably brought the matter to the Court of Appeals, but the
latter forwarded the expediente, being of the opinion that the appeal involved
questions of jurisdiction and/or law
"What is being sought in this present action" say appellants "is to prohibit and
forbid the appellee Sheriff of Iloilo from attaching and selling at public auction
sale the real properties of appellants because that is now forbidden by our law
after the chattels that have been purchased and duly mortgagee had already
been repossessed by the same vendor-mortgagee and later on sold at public
auction sale and purchased by the same at such meager sum of P10,000."
(1) Exact fulfillment of the obligation, should the vendee fail to pay;
(2) Cancel the sale, should the vendee's failure to pay cover two or
more installments;
(3) Foreclose the chattel mortgage on the thing sold, if one has been
constituted, should the vendee's failure to pay cover two or more
installments. In this case, he shall have no further action against the
purchaser to recover any unpaid balance of the price. Any agreement
to the contrary shall be void. (New Civil Code.)
Appellants would invoke the last paragraph. But there has been no foreclosure of
the chattel mortgage nor a foreclosure sale. Therefore the prohibition against
further collection does not apply.
It is true that there was a chattel mortgage on the goods sold. But the Southern
Motors elected to sue on the note exclusively, i.e. to exact fulfillment of the
obligation to pay. It had a right to select among the three remedies established in
Article 1484. In choosing to sue on the note, it was not thereby limited to the
proceeds of the sale, on execution, of the mortgaged good.2
In Southern Motors Inc. vs. Magbanua, (100 Phil., 155) a similar situation arose
in connection with the purchase on installment of a Chevrolet truck by
Magbanua. Upon the latter's default, suit on the note was filed, and the truck
levied on together with other properties of the debtor. Contending that the seller
was limited to the truck, the debtor obtained a discharge of the other properties.
This court said:
The trouble with the argument is that it assumes that acceptance of the goods by
the Southern Motors Co, with a view to "cancellation" of the sale. The company
denies such acceptance and cancellation, asserting the goods, were deposited
in its shop when the sheriff attached them in pursuance of the execution. Its
assertion is backed up by the sheriff, of whose credibility there is no reason to
doubt. Anyway this cancellation or settlement theory may not be heeded now,
because it would contravene the decision in Civil Case No. 2942 above-
mentioned — it would show the Tajanlangits owned nothing to Southern Motors
Inc. Such decision is binding upon them, unless and until they manage to set it
aside in a proper proceeding — and this is not it.
There are other points involved in the case, such as the authority of the judge of
one branch of a court of first instance to enjoin proceedings in another branch of
the same court. As stated, Judge Pelayo refused to interfere on that ground.
Appellants insist this was error on several counts. We deem it unnecessary to
deal with this procedural aspect, inasmuch as we find that, on the merits,
plaintiffs are not entitled to the relief demanded.
Judgment. The decision dismissing the complaint, is affirmed, with costs against
appellants. So ordered.
Footnotes
1
There was a mortgage, but plaintiffs elected to sue on the note, and
ask for execution.
2
Manila Trading & Supply Co. vs. Reyes, 62 Phil. 461; Macondray &
Co. vs. Eustaquio, 64 Phil. 446; Manila Motor Co. supra.